AFI Conservatory's first-year directing Fellows make short "cycle" films and second-years make a thesis film, and both need actors. According to the experts we interviewed, first-year films cast mainly from SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory members through the union's iActor database, while thesis films put out breakdowns on Actors Access and Breakdown Express. They are almost always unpaid, so you're doing them for experience, footage and relationships. Shaan Sharma, who teaches in the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory, answered our questions on how it works.
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They're the short films made by Fellows at the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles. As of November 2026, AFI says its directing Fellows can direct up to three narrative short films in their first year, known as cycle films, and a thesis project in their second year. AFI describes the thesis as a professionally executed short film.
Casting is part of the training. AFI's second-year curriculum lists an Advanced Casting Workshop covering choosing a casting director, writing a breakdown, searching for talent and auditioning, and first-years take Directing Actors classes. So you'll often be working with directors who are learning to work with actors properly.
It depends on the year. Ben Whitehair and Shaan Sharma both told us AFI's first-year Fellows cast from SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory members. Shaan explained they must use Conservatory members if they can find the right person there, and can look elsewhere if they can't. Second-year Fellows have no restriction on where they find actors.
Kym describes the same split from the actor's side. First-year projects come through the union's iActor profiles. Thesis films are cast through Breakdown Express and Actors Access, often with professional casting directors. AFI doesn't publish an actor casting page of its own, and SAG-AFTRA's AFI Casting page sits behind its member login.
You need to be a member of SAG-AFTRA's Los Angeles Local in good standing, which Shaan says means caught up on your dues. Then enrol online through the Conservatory page and pay the annual fee. As of November 2026, SAG-AFTRA lists:
| Conservatory membership | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Adult | $60 |
| Minor | $25 |
Shaan says membership now runs a full year from the day you join. It also gets you classes, workshops and, he told us, volunteer-run free self-tape help. Not in the union yet? See how to join SAG-AFTRA.
iActor is SAG-AFTRA's online database of Conservatory members. Shaan describes it as an old system, but it's free to be on, and you can upload headshots, footage and your details. AFI's students use it to search for actors by age and type.
It isn't a casting site, though. There are no breakdowns and nothing to submit to, so a complete, current profile is the whole job. Keep your best footage and a recent headshot on it.
Yes, mainly through the thesis films. Shaan told us second-year Fellows can cast anyone, and first-years can go outside the Conservatory when they can't find the right member. Gary Marsh told us Actors Access is where student films, short films and other low or no-pay projects show up, so that's where to watch.
If you have reps, Kym's approach is to ask them. She tells her agent and manager she knows thesis films don't pay and asks to be submitted anyway, and tries to do one every couple of years because of the production value.
Start with relationships. Shaan says the best way in is getting to know the Fellows, and Conservatory members get mixers where they can meet them. Otherwise, students search iActor, and AFI's on-staff casting contact gets in touch to invite you to a self-tape or an in-person audition, usually at AFI.
His one rule: read that email carefully and follow it exactly, because it tells you how to audition and gives you the sides. And you won't always audition. Some Fellows make offers off your footage, so the reel on your profile matters.
Usually not. Shaan was blunt: it's an educational project, so go in for experience and relationships, not cash. The exception is the occasional film with a real budget.
For context, SAG-AFTRA has a Student Film Agreement. As of November 2026, it covers films up to 35 minutes and a $35,000 budget. Performer pay is deferred, but if the film is distributed with your consent, you must be paid $125 a day before release. Wardrobe, mileage and penalties aren't deferred. Ask production which agreement your film is under. This is general information, so check with SAG-AFTRA for your situation.
Only from some films. Shaan explained there are two kinds. Purely educational projects may use unlicensed music or copyrighted material, so they're never released and you may not get the footage at all. Films with full clearances, usually the thesis films, can be released, often go to festivals, and copies can be collected from AFI.
The same split decides IMDb. Shaan says you only get a credit if the film is released and someone submits it, and IMDb itself requires proof such as a festival screening. Our guide to fixing your IMDb page covers adding it. When you ask for footage, Kym's list is 1080p or ProRes, plus a copy without the music.
Set time first. Shaan points out the pressure is lower on a student set, which makes it a good place to sharpen your skills. Then there's the material: a cleared thesis film can give you a polished scene for your demo reel, which matters if you're building an acting reel with no footage.
The bigger win may be people. You're working alongside filmmakers at the start of their careers. Kym's wider advice works in any city: find your top local film schools, ask where they find their cast, and get on that list. If a film doesn't release yet, Kym says ask before using unreleased footage, and expect a yes for an early scene sooner than one that gives away the ending.
If you're a SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles member, join the LA Conservatory and complete your iActor profile, which first-year AFI students search. For thesis films, watch for breakdowns on Actors Access or ask your agent to submit you.
Our experts told us first-year films search the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory's iActor database, while thesis films post breakdowns through Actors Access and Breakdown Express.
Not always. First-year films mostly use SAG-AFTRA Conservatory members, but second-year thesis films can cast anyone.
As of November 2026, SAG-AFTRA lists the annual fee as $60 for adults and $25 for minors, for Los Angeles Local members in good standing.
Usually not. They're educational projects, so actors take part for experience, relationships and, on cleared films, footage.
Only if the film is released and the credits are submitted to IMDb. Educational-only films that are never released won't give you a credit.
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